Calgary police search landfill in case missing boy and grandparents

Police have expanded their search for Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents to a dump outside Calgary.

As the search for a missing boy and his grandparents continues, Calgary police say they're looking into business dealings involving the family. Officers are also searching landfills and a property near Airdrie, Alberta.

CALGARY—Calgary police expanded their search for a missing boy and his grandparents to a garbage dump Wednesday, as the man they consider a person of interest in the case learned he could be released from custody as early as Friday.

She said the search is routine in such missing persons cases and it’s expected officers will be checking other landfills in the area as well.

“They’re attempting to cast a wider net,” said Poole.

While the search was underway, Douglas Garland, 54, appeared in court on identity theft charges unrelated to the missing persons case.

Nathan O'Brien, 5, has been missing since June 29.

Police say Garland was questioned last weekend in relation to the disappearance and officers continue to search his parents’ rural property north of Calgary. He appeared in court via video from the Calgary Remand Centre for what was supposed to be a bail hearing. He is to return to court Friday.

Calling him their 'superhero,' the parents of a Calgary boy who went missing with his grandparents are appealing for the five-year-old's return. Investigators say they are treating the case as a suspicious disappearance.

But the Crown and defence both agreed Garland could be released with a number of conditions. He first needs to provide a new address for where he would be staying, with the search ongoing at the farm where he had been living.

Nathan and his grandparents were last seen June 29, following an estate sale at the couple’s home. Police believe a violent incident took place in the home, but have maintained they still hope to find the three alive.

Calgary police have confirmed that Garland has a connection to the missing family members. His sister is in a relationship with a member of the Liknes family.

Calgary Police and RCMP continued to search his parents’ rural property near Airdrie on Wednesday, bringing in paramedics and fire units.

Earlier in the week, dozens of officers searched ponds and stands of trees up to three kilometres away from the acreage.

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